Does the 2024 Mercedes-AMG GT 63 Coupe Hold a Candle to the 2016 AMG GT S and 2024 Rivals?

The new AMG GT 63 Coupe is a true spectacle on the road. It looks so sleek and elegant that one might even feel underdressed without a tuxedo behind the wheel. It's also as powerful as it's superb-looking.

The AMG 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 powerplant produces 577 hp at 5,500-6,500 rpm, with 590 lb-ft or 800 Nm of twist at 2,500-5,000 rpm. That power is sent to the AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive system via the AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 9G 9-speed transmission. All this is enough to send it flying from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.1 seconds.

The "handcrafted" V8 sounds heavenly both from the cabin and standing next to it while drooling as it drives further and further away from you like a dream that escapes memory. So what's wrong with it?

Well, the price for starters. In the United States, the MSRP for the standard trim starts from $175,900. That price has a habit of going north, with extra options, like the $1,300 AMG Night Package, the $5,300 AMG Exterior Carbon Fiber Package, or the $1,950 Driver Assistance Package. If you truly want to go all in, there's also the $370 indoor car cover, the $85 AMG Star Set, and the $110 AMG fuel cap.

There are many other options, not to mention the $2,100 panorama roof, the $4,500 Burmester High-End 3D Surround Sound system, the $1,800 front-axle lift system which does wonders for its ground clearance, or the $8,950 AMG Carbon Ceramic Braking System. You can even add extra weight to it through the 2+2 cockpit configuration. The twin rear seats option folds down, costs precisely $0, and is suitable for small passengers. The model we're looking at today crossed the $200k threshold.

The AMG GT 55 Coupe also comes with the "handcrafted" V8 mill, but it's cheaper at $134,900. That also means less power. With 469 hp and 516 lb-ft or 700 Nm of torque at its disposal, it can reach 60 mph from a standstill in 3.8 seconds, making it 0.7 seconds slower in a straight line. The GT 55 might be 41,000 US dollars cheaper than the GT 63, but it produces 108 less horsepower and 74 lb-ft (100 Nm) less torque.

The GT 63 is also quite heavy, with a curb weight of 4,343 lbs. or 1,970 kilograms, which certainly affects its EPA estimated fuel economy of 13 mpg or 18.1 l/100km in the city and 20 mpg or 11.76 l/100km on the highway.

The $176k GT 63 Coupe is not even that fast down the quarter-mile compared to its rivals. Recently, the boys from the "Throttle House" YouTube channel raced it against a $141,000 BMW M8 Competition Coupe with a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 engine producing 617 hp and 553 lb-ft (750 Nm) of torque, a defunct Audi R8 V10 Performance Quattro with 602 horsepower and 413 lb-ft (560 Nm) of torque on tap that cost $161,000, and a $197,200 Porsche 911 Turbo (not S) with a 3.7-liter engine capable of outputting 572-horsepower with 553 lb-ft or 750 Nm of twist.

The first race was between the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 Coupe, the BMW M8, and the Porsche 911 Turbo. The AMG disappointed fans, finishing the 1/4-mile in last place, with the M8 in second place and the 911 Turbo in first place. After that, the Merc sought a private audience with the Audi R8 Performance Quattro and lost again badly.

This proved that although it's blazing fast on its own, it turns out it's not so groundbreaking over the 1/4-mile against other car brands. But how does it compare to an older and much cheaper Mercedes model, like the first-gen 2016 Mercedes-AMG GT S? To answer that question, Thomas and James from Throttle House brought them both to face each other at their usual drag strip from the Dunville Autodrome Ontario, Canada.

First, let's introduce the old-timer. The GT S has a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 powerplant capable of delivering 503 horsepower and 479 lb-ft (649 Nm) of torque while weighing considerably less than its descendant, at 3,695 lbs. or 1,676 kilograms. In other words, the 2024 AMG GT 63 Coupe has 74 more horsepower and 111 more lb-ft (150 Nm) of torque but weighs 648 lbs. or 294 kilograms more.